Chef fell in love with Penang nasi kandar and assam laksa
GEORGE TOWN: Anthony Bourdain had chosen the Line Clear nasi kandar as one of his favourite foods and even included it in his list for the Bourdain Market in New York before the project was shelved.
The globe-trotting celebrity chef and television host is said to have described the dishes at the stall here as “awesome”.
Osman Mydin, who has been serving at the outlet in Penang Road for the past 35 years, said the American had visited the place more than once.
“I did not get the chance to meet him but we used to have his photograph and an article about him at our outlet,” he said at the stall yesterday.
The proposed Bourdain Market – once billed as the “food market of the century” by Eater magazine – was supposed to feature 100 of the world’s best street foods.
Over in Air Itam, the family that runs the assam laksa stall at the foothill of Kek Lok Si temple did not recognise Bourdain when he dropped by for a bowl of the rice noodles with piquant fish-based broth a few years ago.
Proprietor Ang Kok Peoh said it was his brother Ang Kak Seong who had served the TV presenter-writer during the latter’s visit then.
“He did not introduce himself or comment about the laksa.
“We only discovered who he was later after watching his video on the Internet,” he said.
Kok Peoh said some of their clients said they came to know about the stall through Bourdain’s video.
“I am shocked by his death.
“I can still remember the table he sat at to savour the dish with a few cans of beer,” he said while pointing to the particular table.
A 2.46-minute video on YouTube titled
Anthony Bourdain – Asam Laksa in Penang was uploaded in November 2012. The clip is from one of the popular shows that he hosted,
No Reservations.